Alleged Illegal Detention Of Opumie: Court Rules Against DSS, AGIP, Awards N300million Damage

 

The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa  and presided over by Justice Ebiyon Duke Charlie has ruled against the Department of State Security(,DSS) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC)  over the illegal arrest and detention of a Youth Activist, Comrade Collins  Trueman Opumie, for over two years.

Justice  Charlie, in his ruling on the suit numbered YHC/324/2022 on Monday declared that the claimant was forcefully imprisoned and should be awarded N300 million for compensation.

Speaking  to journalists  in Yenagoa after the ruling, the counsel to the claimant, Ebipreye K.V. Sese Esq said "it's a serious congratulation to the claimant, Comrade Opumie, that at the end of the day the court saw merit in his case and as a favourable judgement."

"The case entirely was two, false imprisonment and malicious persecution and the court successfully upheld the issue of false imprisonment but  the malicious persecution was disagreed on but it's still a win win for the claimant"

"Am believing strongly that justice  seems to have been served. I appreciate the judiciary. As a matter of fact,  the judiciary system in Nigeria is one that we can rely on in the dispensation of justice.

"I'm well satisfied with the judgement because there must be an end to litigation. The court has come to its conclusion to uphold the claimants claim that he was forcefully imprisoned and was entitled to N300 million.

"It is often said that the judiciary is the hope of the common man, this is one particular instance that has been established that indeed the judiciary is the hope of the people."

The claimant and the Bayelsa Youth Activist, Comrade Collins  Trueman Opumie, said he was satisfied with the judgement because his right was trampled upon adding that he was denied medical attention and violation of his right.

He said  "I am happy eventhough all our expectations were not met, I thank all those who stood by me, the traditional rulers and my lawyer for standing by the truth".

Recall  that Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie,  in a statement of claims had accused the DSS in  for allegedly abducting him at the instance of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in a gestapo style, physically and mentally tortured him, tied and threw him into the boot of a vehicle and took to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.

The Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie, filed a suit against his illegal arrest and detention with demands for the sum of N9 billion in damages. 

He also prayed court to declare  his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years for false Imprisonment and malicious prosecution illegal.